Aechmea plant named &#39;del cielo&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aechmea  plant named ‘Del Cielo’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching growth habit; creamy white, light green and green variegated leaves with green-colored margins and creamy white and yellow green-colored longitudinal stripes; inflorescences held upright and above the foliar plane on strong red-colored scapes; tightly branched inflorescences with dark violet blue-colored petals and lighter violet blue-colored sepals; and long-lasting inflorescences.

Botanical designation: Aechmea fendleri×Aechmea dichlamydea trinitensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DEL CIELO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Aechmea plant,botanically known as Aechmea fendleri×Aechmea dichlamydea trinitensisand hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Del Cielo’.

The new Aechmea plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofthe Aechmea fendleri×Aechmea dichlamydea trinitensis ‘Del Mar’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,421. The new Aechmea plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population ofplants of ‘Del Cielo’ in a controlled greenhouse environment inPrinceton, Fla. in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aechmea plant by offsets in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2005 has shown that theunique features of this new Aechmea plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Aechmea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Del Cielo’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Del Cielo’ as a new and distinct Aechmea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching growth habit.    -   2. Creamy white, light green and green variegated leaves with        green-colored margins and creamy white and yellow green-colored        longitudinal stripes.    -   3 Inflorescences held upright and above the foliar plane on        strong red-colored scapes.    -   4. Tightly branched inflorescences with dark violet blue-colored        petals and lighter violet blue-colored sepals.    -   5. Long-lasting inflorescences.

Plants of the new Aechmea differ from plants of the parent, ‘Del Mar’,primarily in leaf color as plants of ‘Del Mar’ have solid green-coloredleaves.

Plants of the new Aechmea can be compared to plants of Aechmeafendleri×Aechmea dichlamydea trinitensis ‘America’ , disclosed in U.S.Plant patent application Ser. No. 14/545,629. Plants of the new Aechmeaand ‘America’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aechmea are more compact and have shorter        leaves than plants of ‘America’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Aechmea are more dense        than inflorescences of plants of ‘America’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Aechmea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Aechmea plant.

The photograph on the right side of the sheet is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Del Cielo’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the left side of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Del Cielo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 20-cm containers during the summerin a polypropylene-covered shadehouse in Princeton, Fla. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 28° to 30° C.,night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and light levels rangedfrom 2,200 to 3,200 foot-candles. Plants were 14 months old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aechmea fendleri×Aechmea dichlamydea    trinitensis ‘Del Cielo’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Aechmea    fendleri ×Aechmea dichlamydea trinitensis ‘Del Mar’, disclosed in    U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,421.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By offsets.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 to 45 days at            temperatures ranging from 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 45 to 60 days at            temperatures ranging from 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            months at temperatures ranging from 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six            months at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; yellow and            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching growth            habit; rosette leaves are erect when young, becoming            outwardly arching with development; plants readily produce            offsets; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil surface to top of leaf canopy.—About 53.3            cm.        -   Plant height, soil surface to top of inflorescence.—About            69.8 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 81.3 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; leaves clasping            and sessile; simple.        -   Length.—About 60 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.7 cm; at the base, about 11.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate, strap-like with a broad sheathing base.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Serrate and spinose.        -   Aspect.—Upright to arching with development.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; stiff.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Lustrous.        -   Venation.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146C to 146D; towards the base, close to 145D. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Towards and at the margins,            close to 146B; central parallel longitudinal stripes, close            to 158C and close to 145A to 145B; venation, close to 146B            to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Towards the            margins, close to 146B; central parallel longitudinal            stripes, close to 158D and close to 145B; venation, close to            146C to 146D.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence form and arrangement.—Long, open terminal            panicles with tightly branched lateral panicles supported by            erect and strong scapes; about 70 lateral panicles each with            about twelve individual flowers; flowers distichous,            sessile.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 12 to 16 weeks            after planting.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Aechmea            are very long-lasting, typically bract color will be            maintained for about two months in the interior and about            five months in the landscape depending on environmental            conditions; inflorescences persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 36 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—About 12.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Ovoid, pointed. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy. Color: Close to 97A; towards the base, close to            97B; bract, close to N92B.        -   Flower length.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl.            Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated            ovate to lanceolate. Apex: Acute to mucronate. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, inner and            outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When            opening, inner and outer surfaces: Distally, close to 90A;            proximally, close to 91B. Fully opened, inner and outer            surfaces: Distally, close to N92B; proximally, close to 91B;            venation, close to 91B; color does not change with            development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;            imbricate and tightly appressed to the petals. Length: About            1.4 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Pointed ovate to            lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,            inner surface: Slightly glossy to semi-glossy. Luster, outer            surface: Glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, inner            surface: Close to 93D. When opening and fully opened, outer            surface: Close to 96B.        -   Scapes.—Length to base of inflorescence: About 32 cm.            Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright.            Texture and luster: Farinose; matte. Color: Close to N34C            and 46D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 155D.            Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate.            Anther color: Close to 155B. Pollen: None observed. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Style            length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to 196B. Stigma            diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color:            Close to 91C. Ovary color: Close to 196D.        -   Seeds.—Seed production has not been observed on plants of            the new Aechmea.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Aechmea have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 36° C.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Aechmea l have been    observed to be resistant to Pythium. Plants of the new Aechmea not    been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to    Aechmea plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Aechmea plant named ‘Del Cielo’ asillustrated and described.